We Canadians are a naval-gazing people. We're always second-guessing ourselves. In a way, this is a good thing: It ensures that our institutions tend not to be completely static. In another way, though, it underlies a natural, national insecurity. Not altogether unexpected, mind you, considering who we live next to. This insecurity manifests itself most often through American-bashing. To listen to some Canadians, the United States has never done anything good, except possibly by accident.
Our near-constant gnashing of teeth over the NHL is another example of this naval-gazing. "Why don't more people watch it?" "Why aren't all the best players Canadian?" "Why don't Canadian teams win the Stanley Cup more often?"
And the list goes on and on and on... to some, the constitution is sacred and static and must never be changed. The Charter is the be all and end all, and all good things flow from it. To others, the Charter must be malleable to allow for a changing world, much like the U.S. constitution has changed over its nearly 231 years - and the constitution hasn't even been ratified by Quebec, so why not change it anyhow?
Hold on, ES... The Americans (or "evil Americans", as many of my so-called "progressive" readers would no doubt prefer I call them) amended their constitution 18 times over 201 years, and our constitution is still unsigned, and the Charter has only been around for 25 years.
True. But, when something's as fresh in your mind as 1982, you tend to realize "whoops, that's not what I meant" or "oops, loophole there" or "oopsies, typo...". I mean, come ON, the NHLPA can find loopholes to exploit in a CBA less than 2 years old, and we want ourselves to think that over the past 25 years criminals and their lawyers haven't found a way to get around their just rewards? And, just for the record: Those "evil Americans", who can't get anything right? In the first 30 years they were independent from Britain, they changed their constitution 3 times, for a total of 12 amendments - INCLUDING the Bill of Rights. So maybe Trudeau's Charter is a good document, but isn't perfect. We likewise have areas in which we can improve how we're governed.
One of my pet ideas, which I came up with independent of outside influence but certainly must have been thought of by someone before *I* did it, was to make the Governor General an elected position. No constitutional changes, nothing. But you've added accountability to the "supervisor" of the House and Senate, and by so doing, made it MUCH more difficult for the "bad guys" (whomever you consider them to be) to run all 3 branches of government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial). More on that in a later post.


text:
Report of the Commissioner of Education Made to the Secretary of the ...
Por United States. Bureau of Education
APPENDIX VI.
SUPERIOR AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION.
I.-INSTITUTIONS FOR THE SUPERIOR INSTRUC.
TION OF WOMEN.
II.--UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.
III.-SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE.
IV.-SCHOOLS OF THEOLOGY.
V.-SCHOOLS OF LAW.
VI.-SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE.
VII.-DEGREES CONFERRED.
SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION.
CLASSIFICATION OF INSTITUTIONS FOR SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION.
Under the general head of superior instruction are included all institations empowered by law to confer degrees. They are colleges of liberal arts, schools of science, professional schools, and universities. Each of these classes consists of institutions differing more or less in organization, standards, and resources, yet possessing enough common characteristics to admit of logical classification. The present scheme of classification was, perhaps, better adapted to the conditions of superior instruction as they existed at the time of its adoption than to the present conditions. The revision of the scheme has been undertaken during the year, but it has not been carried far enough to justify any very marked departure from the stereotyped form under which the particulars relating to the subject have heretofore been tabulated.
TABLE 30.-Statistical summary of students in institutions for superior instruction (not
including students in preparatory departments).
TABLE 30.- Statistical summary of students in institutions for superior instruction, fc.
Table 32 presents the statistics of 204 institutions reporting under the head of superior instruction for women. These had 2,123 instructors and 27,143 students distributed as follows so far as known: Preparatory 6,688, regular 13,206, normal course 107, special 1,254, advanced 164.
By reference to the coluwn showing productive funds it will be noticed that 13 of the institutions report none and 161 nake no report under that head. Of the remainder, 19 report productive funds yielding incomes less than $2,000, 6 realize incomes from their productive funds ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, 1 an income of $5,945, and 4 incomes as follows: Mt. Holyoke, $11,000; Wellesley College, $23,371; Buffalo Female Academy, $24,000; Friends College, Bron Mawr, $10,000.
The lack of endowments, which is a serious drawback to this class of schools, seems the more surprising when it is remembered that the patrons of the schools are found largely among the wealthier classes. Tho facts suggest a want of appreciation on their part of the essentials of a vigorous educational work, which the schools themselves might possibly correct by well-organized efforts. It is noticeable that in the distribution of benefactions for the year, as shown in Table 84, page 673, the class of schools under consideration received only $266,285, or a littlo niore than 4 per cent. of the total reported. Of this amount $124,072 were donated to 4 institutions in Massachusetts, and $100,000 to a college in Ohio, leaving $42,213 to be distributed among the rest of the schools.
About two-thirds of the institutions tabulated are authorized by law to confer degrees; these offer a curriculum closely resembling the ordinary college course ; greater option, however, seems to be allowed than in the colleges for mev, and, as a rule, modern languages engage more attention than the classics. On the whole the experience of these schools seenis to indicate that identity of training for the two sexes is not as yet generally demanded in the United States. This fact becomes even more evident upon an examination of the conrses of study usually followed by the women students in co-education colleges. There are, of course, notable exceptions to this general tendency. Thus among the superior institutions for women are found colleges like Smith, Wellesley, and Bryn Mawr, where the customary college standards are maintained, and in the co-education colleges women are found rivalling men in the successful pursuit of the severest studies. With respect, however, to much of the work represented in the table beforo us, the term "superior" inust be taken in a somewhat different sense from the same term as applied to the intellectual discipline and culture atîorded in the leading colleges for men. The recognition of this difference makes it easy to understand why women, wlio are conscious of superior intellectual powers, or who foresee the need of an equipment for intellectual work which will en. able them to compete with men for remunerative employment, should press for admission to institutions like Harvard and Columbia. It is interesting to note in this connectiou that the report of the president of Columbia College for 1286 included in the roll of students 13 matriculated in the collegiate course for women.
The Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Mass., has made an endeavor, and apparently as successful one, to develop a scheme of instruction specially adapted to the practical needs of women upon who will devolve the obligations and cares of domestic and social life. It includes careful instruction in anatomy and physiology, accompanied by lectures given by a well-known physician; also lectures on the principles of coinnon law given by a lawyer of note, and lectures, lessons, and practice " in the arts of domestic life, the principles of dress, artistic house furnishing, healtlıy homes, cooking marketing, and all the principles which underlie the wisest management of homnes.' It is gratifying to know that the effort to establish such courses of instruction and training have met with the cordial approval of patrons and others interested in the cause of woman's education. Surely experiments of this kind, which recognize the special wants of a very large and influential class of American women, deserve no less enconragement than the efforts to secure to them the highest opportunities for general intellectual development and culture.
Statistics in detail of schools for the superior instruction of women will be found in Table 32. The following is a comparative summary of institutions, instructors, and pupils, from 1876 to 1886, inclusive (1883 omitted):
Number of institutions
Number of instructors..
223 220 225 227 227 226 227 036 227 201 2, 404 2., 30.5 2, 478 2, 3232, 340 2, 211 2,721
2, gry 2, 86 2. 1233 23, 830 3,022, 23, 039 24, 605 25,780 20,011 28, 720 0,387 28, 868 27, 143

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I had to pay for my abortion out-of-pocket.
Luckily, I had a modest but steady income. The out-of-pocket price of $400 for a first-trimester abortion was a big unexpected cost. But I could afford it. My boyfriend at the time contributed half. I cut back on take-out, downgraded to drinking 40s, and kept an eye on my balance for a few weeks. That was that.
If I had needed an abortion a year earlier, when I had recently moved to New York City and was making just enough for rent and eating sandwiches for every meal, I wouldn't have had the money. But even then I could have called my parents and they would have unquestionably lent me whatever I needed. And if my parents didn't happen to be supportive, middle-class, pro-choice folks, I could have still depended on at least half a dozen friends to pool together the funds.
This is all to say: I am a very privileged lady. Even as an underemployed recent college grad, I was still seriously privileged. The cost of an abortion would never, ever have prevented me from getting one.
But I know that the very first thing I did when I found out I was pregnant was check to make sure I had enough in my account to cover the cost of an abortion. In those initial moments of anxiety, holding two positive pregnancy tests and trying to figure out how to get unpregnant as soon as humanly possible, knowing I wouldn't have to scramble to come up with the money was an enormous relief.
The U.S.'s commitment to human rights involves a rhetorical nod and some half-hearted policy. Theoretically, at least, we believe there are some things that all people should be entitled to regardless of their ability to pay. Although the public school system is plagued by inequality, we pay lip service to the idea that every child, rich or poor, deserves an education. Although our social safety net is relatively flimsy and filled with holes, it exists because we tend to believe that people shouldn't go hungry or fall into poverty when they're laid off or die because of lack of health care.
We do this because we know that we all benefit from a free, educated and healthy society. And also because we know that basic things like education, food, and medical care are necessary to the pursuit of happiness and that if we don't want that promise to be a total lie, we should at least pretend these things are rights granted to all instead of privileges enjoyed by the few.
But there is no pretense when it comes to abortion. The right to abortion is not a true right in this country. It is treated as a negative right when it's actually a positive one. It is allowed to be systematically denied to many women simply because some people don't like it. Roe v. Wade may mean the government can't prevent you from ending an unwanted pregnancy, but the Hyde Amendment ensures that's only true if you can pay for an abortion yourself.
The right to choose without federal funding for abortion is like the right to an education without a public school system. It's a mean joke.
Abortion does not just happen. Unlike the right to free speech or to assembly or to worship, the government cannot protect the right to choose simply by getting out of the way. Exercising this particular right requires paying for a pretty expensive medical procedure. And as long as that procedure is excluded from coverage under federally-funded health care programs, it's a right that is meaningless to millions of women.
We have a word for a right that you can only access if you can afford to pay for it: it's called a privilege. And that's what being able to safely and legally terminate a pregnancy is in the U.S.
And so we're bowling for abortion access again this year to raise money to help women who live paycheck to paycheck get the abortions they need. And, frankly, I hate it. Because these women shouldn't have to rely on charity in order to control their reproductive lives. Because the need for abortion funds is evidence of a complete failure to uphold any semblance of equality when it comes to abortion rights. Because I want abortion to be federally funded now.
But until it is, I'll keep donating. As one of the privileged women who actually has a true right to choose—and has used it gratefully—it's my duty to pay it forward to all the women who still, 38 years after Roe v. Wade, do not.
Click here to donate to Feministing's team, The Boehner Killers, in the National Abortion Access Bowl-a-thon.


text:
Chorebus abaris är en stekelart som först beskrevs av Nixon 1943.  Chorebus abaris ingår i släktet Chorebus och familjen bracksteklar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Bracksteklar
abaris

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Childress fields Div. I offer from High Point
Published 12:20 pm Wednesday, January 8, 2020
By Charles Curcio
Bryson Childress shoots a free throw for Hargrave Academy, where he averages 14.5 points per game for the Tigers. (Contributed)
One former outstanding basketball player for North Stanly saw his recruiting status continue to improve as his team's schedule brings him back to play closer to home.
Bryson Childress, the all-time leading scorer in Stanly County basketball history, recently received a NCAA Div. I college offer from High Point University.
Childress, playing post-graduate basketball this season for Hargrave Military Academy, said it means a lot to him that Coach Tubby Smith believes in him enough to offer him a scholarship
"He's one of the best coaches in college basketball. It's a prestigious school and a great basketball culture," Childress said regarding Smith, who has coached for 28 years including winning a national title with Kentucky in 1998.
The schedule for the Tigers will bring Childress and his teammates to Greensboro Jan. 13 to play Liberty Heights as well as a matchup with Guilford College two nights later.
Hargrave was recently ranked as the number-one team in the National Prep Coaches Poll. The Tigers are 15-0 on the season including wins over ranked opponents such as Woodstock Academy and New Hampton.
Individually, Childress continues to put the ball in the basket as he did when score more than 2,000 points for North Stanly. With Hargrave, he has averaged 14.5 points per game and is shooting 52 percent from the 3-point arc.
Childress said playing for the Tigers has been great as the team climbed to the top of the coaches poll.
"I've really grown and developed as a player and person. I'm playing against the best players in the country every day and it's really prepared me for the college level physically and mentally," Childress said.
Sports Editor Charles Curcio can be reached at charles.curcio@stanlynewspress.com, 704-983-1361 or via Twitter (@charles_curcio).
About Charles Curcio
Charles Curcio was the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press from 1999-2001 and has currently served in the same capacity since 2008. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also been honored four times by the North Carolina Press Association.
More by Charles
West Stanly men win at Forest Hills
A lacrosse legacy at Pfeiffer enters Phase Two
West Stanly men return from COVID protocol, post win, loss
Comets women push win streak to 11, top Albemarle
South Stanly men's basketball down North Stanly
© 2022, The Stanly News & Press


Published Mar 26, 2019 at 12:22 p.m.
Published Mar 26, 2019 at 12:12 p.m.
Published Mar 25, 2019 at 10:37 a.m.
Updated Mar 22, 2019 at 12:44 p.m.
Published Mar 16, 2019 at 1:01 p.m.
Updated Mar 15, 2019 at 5:22 p.m.
Updated Mar 14, 2019 at 2:15 p.m.
Published Mar 08, 2019 at 2:31 p.m.


Next a simple text file named ".htaccess" may need to be modified or placed on Apache Web servers. The .htaccess files are used on Apache servers for purposes such as preventing certain computers from accessing a Web server or to password-protect directories on a Web server. If your Web server is other than Apache, you may skip this step. This step is to ensure that an Apache server recognizes the file extension (".rss") of your RSS file. If your Web server already has an .htaccess file, download this file and add the text below to it.
Save this file as ".htaccess." You will probably need to rename the file manually because Notepad may automatically add a ".txt" file extension. Upload this file to your Web server and put it in the same directory as your Web site's main page (i.e., index.html) (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3—The .htaccess file must also be placed on the Web server in the same directory as the main page of the Web site.


You're going to love these four coloring book activities for kids (and you) to do at home. Get in quality time with your child, entertain a sick kid, display your work, and create your own inspiration!
My daughters and I love coloring. Sometimes we just want to spend time together. Coloring is one of the best activities because it's easy even if I'm tired. Even better, coloring together sparks intense and interesting conversations. That in itself is valuable!
Just say no to screen time!
If you're like me, you don't want your sick kid watching TV or playing games on their devices all day. One alternative we've found, especially when they're too fuzzy to read, is coloring. My oldest daughter LOVES to print out coloring book pages thematically. Her last sick day, she colored all the Greek gods and goddesses. The time before that, it was Disney characters.
In these instances, you don't need coloring books — just Google "free printable coloring book pages" and the topic you want.
Stick the pages on a clip board and you're ready to go.
Take your finished coloring pages, put them in a lovely frame, and display!
Use a pen or permanent marker to draw your own coloring pages. We like lettering favorite quotes or drawing zentangles.
Do you have any favorite coloring books? How about coloring book activities?
Coloring books and pages can be good for everyone. Fun for kids and relaxing for adults!. Great article!


Axel Fritz is a successful sales professional in the IT industry. One day, he decided to quit his job and sell all his belongings. He left his home in Germany to live with only a backpack and to meet interesting people around the globe. Repeatedly, he asked one question to find inspiration about the meaning of happiness in order to finally discover his own individual definition of it and to live a happier life.
The short stories are taken from twenty-five real conversations the author had with people and friends during his travels.
Holen Sie sich das Discount Preis von Asking One Question: A Novel about Traveling the World & Finding Meaning and Happiness (English Edition) Mit kostenlosem Versand. Wir empfehlen Ihnen, diese Aktion zu kaufen von Amazon , die größte und führende Online-Shop in der Welt und man kann einen sehr guten Rabatt für Ihre Bedürfnisse Produkte erhalten.


there is no buildSrc directory.
> It works fine locally. Is your local dir writable? No full disk?
> try to delete ~/.gradle/caches/3.2.1 ?
> > FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.
> > initialization/buildsrc/defaultBuildSourceScript.txt' from cache.
> > c6w8a8mtuolqv12rk5ak65x14.class does not exist.
> > --debug option to get more log output.


text:
Miranda Kerr Has Finally Debuted Her Wedding Dress and It's Every Bit As Gorgeous As We Could Have Hoped
Nicole Briese · Jul 16, 2017
Nearly two months after Miranda Kerr and husband Evan Spiegel tied the knot, the former Victoria's Secret angel is finally debuting her wedding dress to the world, and it's every bit as gorgeous as we might have hoped.
With less than 50 people in attendance at her beyond-intimate ceremony, the 34-year-old has been able to keep her gown under wraps from the prying eyes of the public — until now. The jaw-dropping Maria Grazia Chiuri Dior design, shot by legendary photographer Patrick DeMarchelier (yes, the same one Miranda Priestly so desperately wishes to reach in The Devil Wears Prada), was revealed over on Vogue's website, along with a film featuring the blushing bride.
Watch @MirandaKerr's fairy-tale wedding dress fitting: https://t.co/wwsKN0uNo0 pic.twitter.com/WVnsVunlEp
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) July 16, 2017
As the mother of one revealed, her gown was inspired by Grace Kelly's breathtaking wedding dress (pictured below) for her nuptials to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, who Kerr cited as one of her main style inspirations. "I've had a lot of fun with fashion, and I used to be more wild, free, Bohemian," she said. "But in this period in my life, my style is more pulled back. My greatest sources of inspiration have always been Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and my grandmother."
Borrowing the high neck, long sleeves, and floral headpiece, designed by Stephen Jones, from Kelly, Kerr's updated take also featured some more modern additions, like the Victorian-esque buttons at the sleeves and back, and the embroidered overlay of her ballgown-style skirt. "She wanted something like a fairy tale, and she gave me this idea, to make a dress that was emotional and simple at the same time," Chiuri said.
For @mirandakerr, it took two fittings and a team of couturiers at @dior to create her fairy-tale wedding dress. Take an exclusive inside look at the making of her dream dress in the link in our bio. Photographed by @patrickdemarchelier.
A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on Jul 16, 2017 at 1:51pm PDT
The result was nothing short of breathtaking: So beautiful was the supermodel on her big day, in fact, that both her mother and grandmother reportedly wept upon seeing her in the frock, with Kerr herself weeping straight through her vows.
"Honesty, I couldn't have imagined a more beautiful wedding dress," she gushed.
Us either, Miranda. Us either.
What do you think of Miranda's designer gown? Tell us over @BritandCo.
(h/t E!; photos via Daniel Roczarski + George Pimentel/Getty)
Nicole Briese
Nicole is the weekend editor for Brit + Co who loves bringing you all the latest buzz. When she's not busy typing away into the wee hours, you can usually find her canoodling with her fur babies, rooting around in a bookstore, or rocking out at a concert of some sort (Guns N' Roses forever!). Check out all her latest musings and past work at nicolebjean.com.
Celebrity Wedding, Wedding Style, Fashion


text:
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Go to Synthacrosia Homepage
A tale not yet told
The end of one story begins the next
War ravaged Absalom . The young, the strong, and the naive were all taken by it. The Nation needed blood. Tiddles was called upon. Having listened to his elders tell tall tales of camaraderie and bravery, within expeditions that rivaled the gods in terms of sheer audacity, the young man was enthralled by war. Anticipating glorious war and an assured conscription, Tiddles practiced with blade and shield, emulating the brave warriors he'd heard stories of. In his down time he'd replay the tales of battle within his mind, relishing every minute detail of combat and action, of tension and hope. The feelings imparted on him from these stories were treasures to Tiddles. He never forgot them.
As a young man, Tiddles would spend countless hours with the elders of his community. While the rest of his peers were out chasing animals and breaking windows, Tiddles would sit motionless on the floor next to whoever had a story he had yet to hear. His ears would be keen, his eyes wide open, as he absorbed every word from the story teller. Before the war, Tiddles filled his head with facts, stories and events, rather than tactics and muscle memory with a sword.
Though Tiddles spent less time learning the blade than his compatriots, he was a quick learner and soon found his rhythm. In doing so, he soon lost his spark. War was not everything he had heard it to be. One chance night set Tiddles back onto the path of him becoming his greatest self. Again relying on the crutch of alcohol to support him in the bleak setting of war, Tiddles stumbled by a group of soldiers he had known. Three of the original 8 were missing. However the remaining 5 had smiles on their faces, as they took turns laughing and telling tall tales of their former companions, each tale more wild than the next.
He always remembered the remaining 5 solders. It was his core that he'd go back to when fishing for inspiration. It became one of his most famous pieces, titled "The Five of Eight".
Tiddles abandoned the war effort as soon as he could; having soaked up enough blood and stories to last him a lifetime. When he returned home, he found there was no one he knew left remaining. With nothing tying him to this place, Tiddles packed up his few worldly possessions, his sword and his shield, and set off to tell his tales.
Tiddles takes time out of his day to tell a young child a happy tale
The Tales he Told
Tiddles would tell stories with a musical flourish. During the war, musical instruments were hard to come by -- as such, Tiddles became proficient with his voice and with the rhythm of beating his sword against his shield. In his stories, Tiddles would sing the praises of his comrades at the top of his lungs, before dipping down and whispering their hardships to those who would listen. He'd sing songs about warriors and soldiers. He'd tell tales of bakers and of cobblers. In his many years after the war, in his many travels, Tiddles would see everything he could, just so he could talk about it afterwards.
Historical Basis
His death
Tiddles did not die a warriors death. He didn't die a bards death. He died a quiet, lonesome death, without the boisterous song his tales had been known to contain. Tiddles had an innate understanding of the ebb and flow of stories, when they'd reached their final pages. He chose tonight to revisit some tales from his war days, some smaller, less know events, personal to Tiddles. For when he finished talking in the tavern, he felt as if his own story was reaching its last chapter. It was late. Tiddles felt flushed from the pints he received at the tavern as payment for his tales. The man had shrugged off the admiration and offers of assistance in walking home. Thus he was alone, when the shadow crept out behind him. He didn't hear the attacker approach him. He didn't hear the sound of a blade being pulled from its sheath. All Tiddles heard was his own gasp as he felt the cold metal enter his back. As he felt his life drain out of him, all he thought about was the stories he had yet to hear.
A Bard Dies Alone
Prose | Mar 18, 2019
W.I.P. Check back later!
The Living Legend
In Absalom , Tiddles was rather unknown. A city of that size remembered only those who who truly made a mark. However, when an artist was not remembered, their art was. The stories told by Tiddles were remembered, and told again and again; in taverns, in family gatherings, when parents told stories to children to help them sleep, Tiddles had his words repeated. Years later, the name Tiddles would be entirely forgotten. But a handful of treasured tales became a cornerstone of storytelling in Absalom, all accredited to a nameless bard years ago. His impact was never forgotten. Tiddles had his story reach its natural end. Then the next chapter began.
Tiddles awoke. He found himself among the other recent dead in Purgatory, but a twisted version of it. An artificially created land within Purgatory: Synthacrosia. He found himself in the company of 4 other lost, confused souls. Other people who's stories had ended just like his, who were unnaturally forced into this new world.
Tiddles had come to The Tower of Souls, with a brand new story to learn.
Sparing himself no time to grieve, Tiddles and his 4 new companions set out to figure out what exactly was happening. It wasn't long before they found themselves knee deep in every conflict inside the tower, and the tower noticed. Citizens inside Synthacrosia began to whisper to each other. "Did you hear about the new arrivals?" "Didn't one of them wrestle with a giant monstrous snake, even while poisoned?" "I hear after that, the same guy scared some murdering cult leader so bad that he cried himself into submission!" "Wait, you're telling me they managed to climb to the second floor? No one has done that in centuries!" "What was his name again? Tiddles?" The Bard had seemingly come to a place that would remember his deeds and his name. With the company of 4 strangers that he was gradually beginning to call his friends, he began the first chapter in an epic legend. He was going to learn everything he could about this place, to tell a tale to rival the greatest stories any mortal has ever heard.
Tiddles was born to parents rich in happiness, not wealth. For 11 years he lived with his parents, until sickness took them. It was a particularly rough year that orphaned many children. The city had a smart idea; pair the young orphans with the older, child-free residents. It was here Tiddles began to nurture his love of stories.
Vibrant Heroes
Tiddles the Partizan
Character | Aug 20, 2019
The friendly bard, banger of drums. Versed in war, sadness, hope, and storytelling. Tiddles is here to help bring those around him up.
Organization | Aug 20, 2019
Those who would climb the tower of souls. Tasked with reaching the top
The Bard's Own Words
Speaking in earnest with a young child;
Ah, if there's one thing I regret, it's never starting a band, you know? There's this power to music! It's why I so often use it in my stories. But the power of music, it's more than just singular story telling. Music, in groups, is so much more. Music between friends -- with friends, is building something unimaginable that lasts forever, while lasting mere moments. If there's one thing I could go back and redo, it'd be going back and actually forming a proper band. It's been a lonely existence, telling tales by myself...
— Tiddles the Partizan
Articles under A tale not yet told
Buy Stormbril a coffee!
This world was started as a homebrew world for use with Paizo's Pathfinder, and as such, any references, systems, characters, locations, etc, that are specifically from Pathfinder, belong to Paizo. The rest of the world as it exists, the characters, locations, themes, histories, etc. belong to me, Stormbril.
Cover image: Netflix Castlevania Background : Tavern by Sylvain Sarrailh
Synthacrosia
Stormbril
Last Update Date
Let me know if you liked it! I'm looking to see if certain sections have too much detail/too many words, or if I should expand upon others. Also hoping the whole "dies but wakes up at the start of a new story" part makes sense, or flows properly with the rest of the article!
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Elias Redclaw
Now THAT was an original and beautiful article! The story of tiddles is amazing! A beautiful combination between prose, storytelling and worldbuilding. The story of tiddles and his life was beautiful to read. And the quote on the sidebar by tiddles really livened up the article. What i liked most about this article though was the ending in how tiddles dies but wakes up at the end of a new story. Makes me want to read more of your world. I cannot say much for now since i am sleepy but overall its a great article and deserves my like! Congratulations and keep up the great work!
@Darkseid
Its a good article. An interesting premise, a likeable character. I really liked the Death and Spread sections. The wriiting in those was great, i enjoyed reading them the most. The pictures and quote really give the image of a kind artist, good choice there. Things you could add: maybe an excerpt from one of his songs or a saying he often used, You could add a sidebar short about Synthacrosia, describe it a little. Or mabe a bit about the war he fought in. Just to give a bit more context to his world. Other than that really nothing worth mentioning. Good article, good premise, worth a like!
I like the suggestions of things to add! I really want to add them. However, I'm at 1500 words exactly, and I cant think of anything to remove.... Thank you for the like and the kind words!
1 Apr, 2019 19:56
Wow... Not going to lie Stormbril, it is very rare that a story in itself keeps me glued to the screen, only to have it end (at least I thought) and begin again. I finished reading this with a "Damn" look on my face. I loved the story, I loved the few visuals you scrounged together. I like how even though no one knows him, they know his stories. A powerful but anonymous legacy. And then his death was the start of another story? Goodness. Bravo.
Thank you so much for the kind words! It really means a lot, I'm super super pleased you enjoyed it!
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For the amazing images. His Titanship Christopher Dravus of Ironrise Games, Our Revered Deity Basic Dragon / Rin & His Majesty Caeora
World Anvil v.0.9.8-Artemis Buit 32654 © 2017 - 2020 [en]
Anvil Time: 10:29, Jan 20 2020


2″ and 3" wide rolls available in lengths of 36 yards.
Transforming Technologies' bright yellow vinyl floor tape with bold black ESD symbols is perfect for marking off ESD safe areas. Print reads "ESD: Safeguarded Work Area" with ESD symbol. Tear resistant. 2″ and 3" wide rolls available in lengths of 36 yards.
Easy to identify ESD safe tape lets people know they are in a static-safe area. Our ESD Floor Tape can be used inside and outside to both stripe and line floors and walls. It also can be applied to heavy machinery and work equipment.


IR-2019-77, April 18, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service released today a six-year plan to modernize the agency's Information Technology systems and improve a variety of taxpayer services critical to the nation's tax system.
IR-2019-76, April 17, 2019 – The IRS today announced the schedule of this summer's Nationwide Tax Forums, held in five cities across the country.
IR-2019-74, April 15, 2019 – As the tax-filing deadline fast approaches, the IRS is reminding taxpayers who have yet to file their tax returns that there are a variety of options to help them.
IR-2019-73, April 12, 2019 – Anyone can request an automatic tax-filing extension, but some people get extra time without asking, according to the IRS.
IR-2019-72, April 12, 2019 – With the April tax-filing deadline just days away, the Internal Revenue Service reminds the 50 million taxpayers who have yet to file their tax returns that there are a variety of options to help them in the final days of tax-filing season.
IR-2019-71, April 11, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today announced the results of a national two-week education and enforcement campaign to combat employment tax crimes featuring visits to nearly 100 businesses showing signs of potential serious noncompliance and taking several dozen legal actions against suspected criminals.
IR-2019-69, April 10, 2019 – With the tax deadline nearly here, the Internal Revenue Service encourages all taxpayers to join the 80 percent of filers who choose Direct Deposit to get their tax refund faster.
IR-2019-66, April 8, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners today announced new results from 2018 that show major progress in the fight against tax-related identity theft and added protection for thousands of taxpayers and billions of dollars.
IR-2019-65, April 8, 2019 – As the April tax-filing deadline nears, many taxpayers may rush to finish their tax returns or find they need extra time to get them done.
IR-2019-64, April 5, 2019 – As the April tax-filing deadline approaches, the Internal Revenue Service understands that taxpayers are anxious to get details about their tax refunds.
IR-2019-63, April 4, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today reminded U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including those with dual citizenship, that if they have a foreign bank or financial account, April 15, 2019, is the deadline to file their annual Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
IR-2019-61, April 2, 2019 – The IRS is offering a free webinar focusing on the importance of filing a return on time, even if the tax due cannot be paid.
IR-2019-60, April 2, 2019 – The IRS today urged taxpayers to file an accurate tax return on time, even if they owe but can't pay in full.
IR-2019-59, March 29, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today clarified the tax treatment of state and local tax refunds arising from any year in which the new limit on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction is in effect.
IR-2019-58, March 27, 2019 – As part of its ongoing security review, the Internal Revenue Service announced today that starting May 13 only individuals with tax identification numbers may request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) as the "responsible party" on the application.
IR-2019-57, March 26, 2019 – The IRS announced today that General Motors, LLC has sold more than 200,000 vehicles eligible for the plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit during the fourth quarter of 2018.
IR-2019-56, March 26, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service reported that there were more than 585 million visits to IRS.gov by taxpayers finding answers to tax questions, e-filing tax returns and checking on their tax refunds in 2018.
IR-2019-55, March 22, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today provided additional expanded penalty relief to taxpayers whose 2018 federal income tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short of their total tax liability for the year.
IR-2019-50, March 20, 2019 – The IRS today announced the results of a national two-week enforcement and education campaign to combat refund crimes and identity theft that resulted in numerous legal actions against suspected criminals and businesses committing these crimes.
IR-2019-49, March 20, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today wrapped up issuing its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams.
IR-2019-48, March 19, 2019 – The IRS today announced it will accept applications for a partial-year LITC matching grant from qualified organizations.
IR-2019-47, March 19, 2019 – The IRS today warned taxpayers to steer clear of abusive tax avoidance schemes and the unscrupulous individuals who promote them.
IR-2019-46, March 19, 2019 – The IRS reminded taxpayers today that it's not too late to contribute to an IRA and still claim it on a 2018 tax return.
IR-2019-45, March 18, 2019 – The IRS today issued a warning to taxpayers against using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying taxes.
IR-2019-44, March 15, 2019 – The IRS today warned the public about a new twist on the IRS impersonation phone scam whereby criminals fake calls from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), an independent organization within the IRS.
IR-2019-42, March 14, 2019 – The IRS today warned taxpayers to avoid improperly claiming various business tax credits, a common scam used by unscrupulous tax preparers.
IR-2019 -41, March 14, 2019 – The IRS today urged taxpayers to protect the security of their personal, financial and tax information.
IR-2019-40, March 13, 2019 – More people are using the improved IRS Free File option to prepare and electronically file their returns for free, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
IR-2019-39, March 13, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to be alert to scam groups masquerading as charitable organizations.
IR-2019-38, March 13, 2019 – Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.4 billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.2 million taxpayers who did not file a 2015 Form 1040 federal income tax return, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
IR-2019-36, March 12, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to avoid falsely inflating deductions or credits on tax returns as part of its 2019 list of the "Dirty Dozen" tax scams.
IR-2019-35, March 11, 2019 – The IRS today warned taxpayers to avoid schemes involving falsifying income, including the creation of bogus Forms 1099.
IR-2019-34, March 8, 2019 – The IRS wants business owners and the self-employed to know that a publication on IRS.gov has information they can use to learn which recent tax-law changes impact their bottom line.
IR-2019-33, March 8, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service warned taxpayers today to be alert to unscrupulous tax return preparers boasting of inflated tax refunds, a common scam tactic during filing season.
IR-2019-32, March 7, 2019 – The IRS today included tax return preparer fraud on its "Dirty Dozen" list of common tax scams for 2019 and offered tips to help taxpayers avoid unscrupulous tax preparers.
IR-2019-31, March 7, 2019 – Victims of Sunday's tornadoes and severe storms in Alabama have until July 31, 2019, to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments, the IRS announced today.
IR-2019-30, March 6, 2019 – Despite a steep drop in tax-related identity theft in recent years, the Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers that the scam remains serious enough to earn a spot on the agency's 2019 "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams.
IR-2019-29, March 5, 2019 – The IRS today reminded taxpayers that, in most cases, Monday, April 1, 2019, is the date by which persons who turned age 70½ during 2018 must begin receiving payments from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans.
IR-2019-28, March 5, 2019 – As the April filing deadline approaches, the IRS today warned taxpayers to be alert to tax time phone scams where aggressive criminals pose as IRS agents in hopes of stealing money or personal information.
IR-2019-27, March 5, 2019 – The Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations under section 250 of the Internal Revenue Code, which offers domestic corporations deductions for foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) and global intangible low-taxed income.
IR-2019-26, March 4, 2019 – Kicking off the annual "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams, the Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers of the ongoing threat of internet phishing scams that lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft.
IR-2019-25, February 28, 2019 – The IRS today reminds taxpayers that the easiest way to check on a tax refund is "Where's My Refund?," an online tool available at IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go app.


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Lo smooth reggae è un sottogenere della musica reggae in chiave commerciale, emerso durante gli anni ottanta.

Lo smooth reggae è simile al reggae pop, nella forte presenza di elementi melodici e un elevato potenziale commerciale . La vera differenza tra i due generi è il fatto che lo smooth reggae è un reggae romantico e seduttivo. Il genere iniziò ad emergere alla metà degli anni ottanta ottenendo popolarità fino agli anni novanta.

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For Public administration and the Education Sector
For Public administration and the Education Sector Digital sovereignty with open-source software
UCS at a glance
UCS is an open-source software solution for identity- and rights management, utilizing open interfaces to ensure high compatibility with services such as Microsoft Active Directory. IT applications and services such as communication and collaboration tools for office work and specialized applications – can be integrated into UCS. Users then have access to these via the online portal. UCS can be scaled up to serve millions of users, is 100% open source software and can be operated in your own data center or via a cloud hosting provider. UCS is the basis for your organization to acheive digital sovereignty by empowering you with control over your data, clear transparent processes and the freedom to choose your own solutions and providers.
More on UCS
Optimized for the educational sector – UCS@school
UCS@school supplements UCS with important functions optimized for educational institutions such as importing user data from state directory services and pedagogic functions for use in class. Schools are relieved of administrative tasks, support is organized efficiently, and educational services are standardized and furnished professionally.
More on UCS@school
Used by states, educational institutions and public authorities
District and state administrations, such as the Brandenburg state parliament, the Federal Constitutional Court, and city and town authorities use UCS to manage their IT infrastructure and users.
The states Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and a multitude of districts, cities and counties, such as Cologne, Hanover, and the district of Kassel use UCS@school as a central directory service for students and teachers, offering educational services such as email, video conference tools and learning management systems via school portals.
A working environment for communication and collaboration in the office
A multitude of tools can be downloaded from the Univention App Center and linked into UCS, ranging from document editing, email, direct communication like chat, voice over IP and video conferencing, to communication for editing and sharing documents. In this way, public authorities and educational establishments create an efficient and economical open-source workstation for their staff, fulfilling all the requirements of digital sovereignty and freeing them from dependency on proprietary solutions.
Phoenix and Sovereign Productivity Suite (SPS)
Univention and our partners Dataport, Bechtle AG, Capgemini and the Frauenhofer Institute, are designing and developing an integrated solution stack for office work: the Phoenix project. This will offer all the functions required for editing documents, communication and collaboration as an open-source solution. It will also include hosting, project consulting, and support from partners.
With the Sovereign Productivity Suite (SPS), we are mapping out an integrated suite of solutions, based on software from Univention, Open-Xchange and Nextcloud which has the functions needed for office work. SPS can be operated in one's own computer center or obtained as software as a service from a cloud provider.
Professional project support
Realizing large digitalization projects in heterogeneous IT environments which have been built up over time requires a high degree of project management competence, IT knowledge and human resources. Our Professional Services Team has the necessary experience, having carried out dozens of such projects successfully, and comprehensively supports your IT department in realizing complex projects.
Bremen Senator for Children and Education
The Bremen Senator for Children and Education takes care of the IT for 142 schools in the city state with approx. 80,000 IT users (pupils, teachers and school staff) and 10,500 client systems.
Centralised administration of educational IT infrastructures of the schools in the city.
Cross-school, centralised provision of IT services such as e-mail, Internet, Intranet and the integration of different end devices such as the pupils' smartphones and tablets.
Easy-to-use software solution for teachers for controlling IT and the pupils' computers in the classrooms.
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) with Samba 4 and UCS@school 4.3 (August 2018)
Read user report
The SyS-C team of the city of Chemnitz maintains the IT of 80 schools in Chemnitz with about 30,000 users and about 5,000 end devices. Besides Microsoft Windows, also Linux operating systems are installed on these devices.
Univention corporate Server (UCS) with integrated Samba 4 and UCS@school as well as the software distribution tool opsi by uib GmbH.
Active Directory compatible domain services for group policies and domain integration of new Microsoft Windows operating systems
Deployment of an open source solution if possible
Co-existence of Windows and Linux operating systems in schools via a uniform user directory
Central software distribution with depot server function at the schools
Graphic interfaces for computer room management
Easy extension of the solution with central IT services for mobile end devices such as tablets, e.g., data exchange services
Fully automated user management
City Basel
Educational center PZ.BS, ICT Medien
Maintaining 60 school sites with 25,000 pupils and 2,500 teachers and about 3,000 PCs and notebooks.
Since 2010 UCS@school is used on 13 servers and 13 further, connected virtualized UCS servers as the central identity and access management system for the provision of file sharing, groupware services and virtual desktops based on Citrix.
Central solution for the about 60 school sites with minimal overhead for the schools themselves
Connection to Windows Active Directory via Univention AD Connection
Extensive interface for the complete and automatic import of accounts from pupils and teachers
Single sign-on and site-independent access to services via the Internet
Integration of further services such as LDAP, mail and web mail, eduBS-Cloud (ownCloud), Plone (eduBS-education server), school websites), eduBS-ILIAS, SoLe
Connection of Windows Active Directory via Univention AD Connection for the provision of virtual desktops based on Citrix.
Read the user report in the blog!
City Hanover
The objective of a pilot project of the city of Hanover, encompassing six schools and 5,500 users, is to create modernized IT groundworks and infrastructure for the digitization of Hanover's education system. The pilot project, which is scheduled to run until 2018, works on implementing a centralized IT infrastructure management, among other things.
Centralization of IT administration for the school authority
A central access, role, and authorization management for the digital identities of students and teachers (user administration) adapted to the requirements of schools
Import mechanism for users for automatic administration of users, schools, and classes
Integration of the Webweaver learning platform and the Apple School Manager to the central user administration
Integration of Microsoft Active Directory into the user administration system
Central web portal for access to web services
Self-service functions (e.g., password reset) via the web portal
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) with UCS@school provides central access and authorization management for the affiliated schools and web services. Since March 2020, 50 schools in the city with approximately 50,000 users have been in the system. Automatic import mechanisms ensure that the data of users, schools, and classes are synchronized so that all services connected to UCS@school always have the latest user information available. Users can log in to the services themselves with the same access data. The Active Directory connection is made by the AD Connector contained in UCS@school.
In addition, with UCS@school, Hannover provides a web portal with password self-service, through which all users can easily access digital education services.
Read the interview in the blog!
City of Aachen
City of Aachen, 37 primary schools, about 7,500 pupils as users, 11,800 workplaces in education and administration
Standardization of the IT infrastructures
Efficient operation with minimal efforts on-site at the schools
Educational functions for teachers
Virtualization of all servers
UCS@school as the central identity and access management system combined with virtualized UCS@school school servers in the data center. Windows clients in those schools with a stable connection to the data center. The city of Aachen is supported by our partner regio it.
City of Beckum
The city of Beckum has a total of nine schools: six primary schools and three secondary schools. Two employees take care of the network infrastructure, the telephone systems, the servers and NAS systems as well as the end devices (including mobile device management). There are about 5,200 accounts (4,500 pupils and about 650 teachers).
Central identity management for the administration of around 5,200 accounts
Connection of nine schools
Externally hosted server with fast Internet connection and support from the service provider
Modular and expandable system
Problem-free integration of existing Apple devices (incl. MDM)
Data protection-compliant integration of MS Office 365
Optional integration of a learning management system and a timetable
UCS@school operated in the NetCologne data center with central administration of all user accounts
Connection to Nextcloud, Open-Xchange and Rocket.Chat, MS Teams for audio and video conferences
Optional extension with an LMS and timetable management.
City of Cologne
The School and Pre-Kindergarten IT Services department at the Data Processing Office in Cologne provides services for 261 schools with around 10,000 faculty members and 135,000 students in total with the support of NetCologne.
A UCS-based identity management system managed centrally by the education authority with integration of the groupware Open-Xchange, the mobile device management software Jamf, the learning platform Moodle, and Office 365 via single sign-on
Consultancy services, supply and strategic further development of the IT infrastructure in schools
Commissioning, responsible operation, and support of the IT infrastructure
Standardization and quality optimization
User maintenance from the school administration software SchiLDZentral via LDAP
Automated software distribution
(Centralized) administration of entire IT infrastructure, for example:
Different server environments in the schools
Centrally provided services
Support of bring-your-own-device models
Operation of around 5,500 tablets financed by the education authority
Provision of a student and teacher mail solution
Learning management system, web spaces, and cloud services
City of Fulda
The council of the city of Fulda is responsible for the support and operation of IT for 23 schools with 13,000 students and 1,000 teachers.
Uniform identity management for the centrally organized school IT of the schools in Fulda, to which the existing Active Directory can be connected.
Controlling access rights for all students, teachers and school administrators of around 1,500 Windows PCs and notebooks and 850 thin clients
Automatic and encrypted data import including a user life cycle management from the school administration (LUSD)
Connection of further services to the central IDM such as Active Directory, fileservices, Self Service and Office 365.
UCS as the basis of identity management
UCS Active Directory connection for synchronization to the cross-school Active Directory.
UCS Active Directory compatible domain controller for file services on all clients.
UCS@school for central identity management and automated import.
UCS Microsoft Office 365 Connector for the connection to Office 365.
UCS Self-Service which enables students and teachers to reset their passwords independently.
City of Neumünster
The IT department of Neumünster's city administration is responsible for the IT infrastructure and IT services for 22 general education schools and three vocational schools in that city. These schools include around 1,100 teachers and 15,000 students.
Discharge of schools through central provision of school IT by the school authorities
Operation in the data center of the municipal IT department
Provision of uniform IT services that are easy to maintain and support via the municipal intranet
Preferred use of Open Source solutions
UCS@school as identity management with digital identities for all students and teachers
RADIUS server for authentication of all users of the school WLAN
Use of web content filters, including parental controls
Online school portal for centralized provision of all IT services and easy access to those
Connection of IT services such as Nextcloud, ONLYOFFICE and Moodle to UCS@school and single sign-on access
City of Wolfsburg
District-free city with 18,800 pupils at 37 schools
The City of Wolfsburg intends to use the Wobila.de project to create a virtual learning space for the educational landscape in Wolfsburg. Within the framework of a pilot project at 6 schools, initially the central provision of WLAN and web services is to be tested.
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) and UCS@school as Identity Management and Portal Solution for Student and Teacher Identities
Connection of the school WLAN to UCS for Internet access at the schools
Connection of the learning management system itslearning to UCS for the central administration of users in UCS
Public sector IT service provider for Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Bremen, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with around 3,500 employees at eight locations.
As part of the Phoenix project, Dataport will develop a web-based IT workstation for public administration and educational institutions as an alternative to proprietary solutions such as Microsoft 365. The workplace has to be Open Source software and offer all basic functions for working on the computer: e-mail, calendar, contacts, word processing, chat, video conferencing, collaborative working, and document storage and exchange. The conceptual design and implementation of the project will be supported by partners.
Together with a partner consortium consisting of the companies Bechtle GmbH, Capgemini and Frauenhofer, Univention won the tender of Dataport for support in the development of Phoenix. In the project, Univention is supplying the software for the identity management and the end user portal, and is providing consulting services for the technical conception and architecture issues as well as for the selection of Open Source solutions and their integration.
Federal office for Radiation Protection
A federal office with 750 employees, 9 locations and 950 workstations with conventional office software and specialist applications.
UCS incl. Samba 4.
Easy administration and great flexibility at the same time
Consistent adminsitration of decentralised it infrastructures
Georedundancy and high availability of all services
Comprehensive support of all Microsoft Windows workstations and specialist applications
Kassel District
The media center maintains 72 schools in the district of Kassel with about 25,000 pupils. It also manages the use of around 6,000 end devices.
Central administration of the school IT in spite of the wide-spread area structure
Functional IT despite partially poor Internet connection at schools in rural areas
Centralized provision of services from the data center Hofgeismar, combined with local school servers
Full extension of UCS@school with central services and school servers.
Partial use of UCS@school administration servers in networks which are separated from the educational network.
Landesmedienzentrum Baden-Württemberg
Over 550 Baden-Württemberg schools, whose school networks and IT services for lessons are supported by the LMZ.
The new version of paedML Linux 6.0, which is based on UCS@school and the Open Source server operating system Univention Corporate Server.
Flexible firewall solution for expanded network infrastructures
Multi-server operation and multi-school capability
Support of current Windows desktops in the schools
Control options for teachers such as screen monitoring and transfer or automatic distribution and collection of student data
Integration of student smartphones
Ludwigslust-Parchim District
In Landkreis Ludwigslust-Parchim there are currently 19 schools at 21 school locations with around 7,200 students, 670 teachers and around 25 clerks.
The district pursue following goals by using UCS@school:
Expansion of the fibre-optic network, which provides 30 Mbit/s in every classroom and an area-wide wifi network in all buildings (temporary solution: exploitation of already existing providers)
Provision of mobile terminals, especially at secondary and vocational schools, based on pedagogical concepts
Relocation of services to the cloud or to Schwerin's computer centre, e.g. data storage, document management, applications, learning applications, e-mail, (school administration software)
Definition of a unified IT strategy at the district's schools on the basis of the media development plan
Central concept for operation and support including necessary know-how build-up and correspondingly efficient organisation
Practical privacy policy for all school areas
IT security for all computer networks, especially for the pedagogical and administrative network
Youth protection via policies and central firewall
Backup solution for all data
Using UCS@school for a central administration of all users' identities as well as a central user-friendly access to all applications
itslearning as a learning platform for lesson preparation, provision of learning material and tasks, promotion of group work, communication between teachers, students and parents
Integration of the district's media centre online media library with learning material
Microsoft Outlook for e-mail communication (via MS Office package licence)
Central software distribution, support, technical maintenance and supervision by the IT service provider KSM, which is not only supported by Ludwigslust-Parchim district but also by others
Various Microsoft Office products (local installation on private terminals via Office 365), including applications such as interactive maps, video editing, etc.
File sharing and file storage via cloud solutions including the connection to the the user administration of UCS@school
Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesische Wasserverband
The Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband with about 820 employees is responsible for the drinking water supply and wastewater disposal for 20 cities, 56 municipalities and 9 districts in an area of 7.832 km², which extends from the East Frisian islands to the district of Vechta in Lower Saxony.
Development of a central identity management for all locations of the water board
Simple administration of the Windows and other systems based workstations and clients of the employees at the various branches
Connection of further IT services such as an e-mail system to the central IT management
Domain administration based on Univention Corporate Server (UCS)
Central management of all users and part of the IT services via the Univention Management Console (UMC)
Login of employees with one password and user name at various services
Use of Samba 4, DNS and DHCP functionalities
Connection of Citrix via the UCS Active Directory Connector to the UCS IDM
Connection of the Groupware Open-Xchange to the IDM of UCS
Simple provision of various services for employees via the browser-based Univention portal
Connection of the Citrix environment via synchronization of LDAP via the UCS AD Connector as well as the use of the network services DNS and DHCP and the integration of Samba 4
Get in contact!


Much of the reason why I felt drawn to photography was that when I looked at really good photographs, they made me feel something that words can't accomplish.
It's a lot like music in the sense that photographs translate and convey emotions in a similar way that sounds do for music through the use of composition.
When I first started taking pictures back in 2011, I saw things on a bit of a surface level in a lot of ways. I wasn't trained to think and see the way I do now. I think perhaps the best thing that photography has taught me is how to see which isn't just related to taking pictures but in all aspects of life.
It teaches you to look deeper and to feel things on a deeper level which inherently demands empathy to create something compelling. When I look at portraits that I find compelling, I can't help but feel that the most important variable that's responsible for taking a good portrait is empathy. And I define "good" to me as meaning compelling or making you feel something.
This, of course, is subjective but it's hard to imagine you can make an emotionally compelling portrait without the ability to perceive underlying emotion in others to then translate onto a photograph.
But how can you make the viewer feel something if you're focused on yourself, your techniques and not connecting to the subject? Being able to connect to that person or that subject is empathy.
You start to put yourself in their situation, to feel what they feel, to seek to understand their perspective on life or to sense what they are feeling. I think this is what people call having a connection which most of us probably feel with our closest friends.
With my closest friends, they simply know what I'm feeling without having to ever ask and they know what to say without any prompt. There's no mystery because this empathy exists. But the essence of any true human connection is empathy, whether it's your best friend or a stranger.
Yet, the more you cultivate empathy, the more you can truly understand the person you're photographing. Instead of taking a photograph of some lady in the park or a sad old man, try connecting to these people rather than objectifying them as they are by their external appearances.
I've taken a lot of pictures of people on the street while living in Japan, and I can't help but look through my images and see that there's just something missing in a lot of these images.
They look like typical street photography shots and on the surface, there's even a certain style. But without that spark of emotion, it's devoid.
It was only within the last year that I realized that no matter how "good" these pictures looked by surface standards, many of the photographs were missing a dimension. They look pretty good compositionally, but that certain energy was missing. I was distant and afar and it was nearly impossible to connect with any of these people.
Fast forward to my life in Boston, I met a nice man one afternoon at the beach. I ended up talking to him for nearly two hours (this usually doesn't happen to me!) and for some reason he decided to tell me about his life. At the time, I was photographing some locals at the beach because Revere Beach seems to have an interesting set of characters.
It wasn't until the end of my day with him, did I get an impression of who this man was, his true character. And it was because of this I was able to get a really good portrait that connected to who he was instead of depicting him as just another colorful local on the beach that might satisfy some superficial quality that "looks good" but yet you move on and forget about it.
The best pictures seem to the be the ones that you can't get out of your mind, the ones that don't change in their significance over time.
Empathy is a skill and except for being a sociopath, it's possible to acquire. Practicing learning how to cultivate empathy is definitely one of the best things we can do to both improve our portraits and to improve our photography, and of course, our own relationships.
This is totally an amazing blog post. Keep it up.


The 3DPrepper website intends to help bridge the gap between the Open Source and Self-Sufficiency communities. To me there is a clear relationship between Open Source and becoming as self reliant as possible and the first moment I was made aware of low-cost 3D Printing... I saw the light bulb. I MUST share the knowledge!
Open Source Projects you NEED to know about RIGHT NOW!


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HomeRiflesBolt Action RiflesType I Carcano (Video)
Type I Carcano (Video)
August 26, 2013 Ian McCollum Bolt Action Rifles, Video 13
One of the less common Japanese rifles of the WWII era is the Type I (pronounced "Type Eye"). The Japanese Imperial Army and Navy procured small arms independently of each other, and the Army received priority as the ground war in China escalated. This left the Navy short of rifles and unable to get them from domestic producers, so they turned to Italy. A contract was signed ordering tens of thousands of Type I rifles (the exact quantity is unclear – most sources say 60,000, but the serial number range would suggest more than double that number).
The rifle was based on a Carcano receiver and bolt, but otherwise configured like a Type 38 Arisaka. For a thorough still-photo comparison between the two rifles, take a look at Teri's excellent page on the Type I at Nambu World.
For Sale: German History of Selfloading Pistols
The Return of GunLab
Select-fire Rifles
BM59: The Italian M14
October 25, 2017 Ian McCollum Select-fire Rifles, Video 26
After World War Two, both the Beretta and Breda companies in Italy began manufacturing M1 Garand rifles. When Italy decided that they wanted a more modern selective-fire, magazine-fed rifle, they chose to adapt the M1 […]
Vintage Saturday: Arms of the Empire
October 26, 2013 Ian McCollum Bolt Action Rifles, Vintage photo 27
Japanese troops with Murata rifles, 1900.
The Italian Workhorse: Carcano M91 Rifle
May 5, 2020 Ian McCollum Bolt Action Rifles, Video 55
Today we start a series looking at the evolution of the Carcano series of rifles. Starting with the M91 rifle adopted in 1892, the Carcano would be the workhorse of the Italian military through two […]
Nice video, I also welcome all posts about Japanese weapons, as I find them quite fascinating.
Just two points I'd like to add, the unprotected front sight and "v" notch rear sight are not peculiarities of the Type I, early production Type 38-s had the same features. The protective ears over the front sight and the peep hole rear sight are later additions to the design.
Magus says:
They're also not additions that were made at the same time. I've seen Type 38s that have the front sight ears but not the rear peep sight.
Nice quick overview, Ian. This is a rifle I've been curious about for awhile. You say many were unissued, do you know of any instances where the rifle was used? It would be great to know what the Japanese thought of the rifle, especially in comparison to the Arisaka.
I would have a question: on Type One rifle, which has allegedly a Carcano style lockup; what makes bolt to open/ close, in absence of usual bridge and cam such as found on Arisaka/ Mauser style weapons? Thanks.
It is a standard Carcano action. It's a cammed surface on the back of the bolt body that forces the cocking piece and firing pin into the rearward position. Same thing as with all split-bridge type actions.
It's not "Type One", BTW. It's just the letter I.
David Carlson says:
Back when I collected Japanese stuff, I bought a mis-identified Type I Italian/Japanese commission rifle. The bolt is indeed a Carcano action with a split receiver bridge and the Carcano-type safety. The magazine is a modified Mauser/Arisaka type.
The shop I found it in had it labeled as a T38! It had the original leather sling, with some kind of Kanji characters inscribed on it. I bought if for 80 dollars. The bolt is removed from the action like a Carcano, drawing back the bolt while pulling forward or backward on the trigger. That part I can't quite remember.
Earl Liew says:
Excellent video, Ian — thanks! I think that may be the very Type I Carcano that I happened to purchase from you a short while back during one of your equipment sales. Great rifle, and a wonderful addition to my rather small ( but growing ) collection of vintage firearms. The fellows at my local FFL dealer were quite intrigued with it.
Peter Rasmussen says:
This is defenetly not the first type Carcano. That was a copy(more or les) of the Doersh & Baumgarten needelfire, from 1868
I had one of these for a while that my dad picked up for next to nothing. $50 if I recall right. It was in very good shape. My dad snagged it back at some point and sold it off (for around $250 or so, again if I remember right.) I really wish he'd have hung onto it though. At the time neither of us were especially into Japanese rifles however. It was a neat piece though and I regret seeing it move from the collection now.
Author, the translated read of the rifle can very much be called "Type I" read as in the English letter "I", but the correct pronunciation for the piece is actually the same as the letter "E" or for the purpose and considering origins of this case, like the I in Italy/Italia. The Japanese Katakana character in its original name is イ, obviously from イタリア.
I just bought a Carcano Type I Japanese rifle. It is in good condition with some history behind it. At first I thought it was a Type 38 or 99. But after viewing the comparisons on Nambu World, I determined it is a Type I. Mine has a serial number J8405 on the left side close to the rear site, and a number 45 stamped on the underside of the bolt handle.
I would be interested to know what the large Japanese letters located on the strap mean. I was told it was the designation for unit assigned. Mine also came with the much shorter Nagoya bayonet attached. It also appears to have a very small unidentifable stamp under the serial number which may be a Japanese letter. No other markings noted.
Russ Chretien says:
I have a Type I rifle but someone who had the rifle before me cut down the stock. I am now looking for a military stock to restore the rifle.Does anyone know where I can get one? Do you know if a type 38 stock would fit it.


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text:
The History of Mexico, by Amy Hunter. 2009. Mason Crest Publishers, www.masonrest.com. 63 pp. $15.95.
BY: JEANNINE PEREZ
"You can only understand a nation's present by looking at its past" says the blurb on the cover. This book, written for teens, is an interesting and easy read, full of photos and illustrations. It can also (I always try to begin by reading young people's books whenever I need to research any new or complex topic and this book works well, for that.)
Beginning with an introduction and a brief overview of Mexican history covering ancient to modern (2009) politics and economy in Mexico, this book continues with details about the first Mexican culture, believed to be the Olmec, who are thought to have been here in Mexico as early as 2000 B.C. The Olmec period of Mexican history bequeathed us many treasures, including those giant head sculptures that combined human and jaguar features, (and all of them wearing helmets, what's up with that?)
Facts about the Mayan and Aztec cultures, complete with colored illustrations, give the reader a tantalizing taste of those long ago eras, including the legend behind Mexico City's beginnings and then, of course we come to the Conquest; the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico when Hernan Cortez enters Mexico through the port of Veracruz. Of course, no one in that time realizes that Cortez is about to change the Mexican culture forever. Next then, comes the subsequent conquest of Mexico by the Spanish.
The third chapter contains portraits and descriptions of the men who were important players in Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain, and the fourth chapter, "the Unrest Continues", chronicles continuing struggles, as Mexico attempts to establish a government and draft a constitution. Again, the portraits there of Santa Anna and Juarez can help us understand the people of that era, and the times in which they lived.
The fifth chapter shows more faces of the personages in that confusing era; Diaz, Poncho Villa , and Emiliano Zapata, and Francisco Madero and the others who are all fighting for power. We next read about the Revolution, a new Constitution that was adopted in 1917, still more unrest, and the beginning of reform in 1921. Mexico has had a very turbulent history. Maybe that's why they have such a colorful culture.
Chapter six gives the reader an eye to the future, telling us of Mexico's modern day hopes.
This book is brief, and I 've sped through many centuries of fascinating history in writing these few descriptive paragraphs, but this slender volume has been valuable to my understanding of Mexico today. It has given me the historical highlights, the flavor, and perspective of many different times and people, and I have also developed a great curiosity to know still more details of Mexico's colorful, sometimes violent, and always wonderful history, and additional stories of "courage and loyalty, violence and betrayal". Of course I can call it a wonderful history since I didn't have to live through it.
On page 60 there is a glossary of words and terms used in the book, and at the bottom of page 61, I also found a list of suggested further reading, and some Internet resources. I think I will check them out, and try to order some of the books.
This small volume is only a tantalizing taste of the complex history of Mexico, offering basic information that is easy to understand and remember. You can find copies at El Caballo Blanco bookstore in Loreto. That's my book store, do drop in.


text:
Accented letters in English
Thread starter Andy1
Andy1
Bretagne,France
English speaker - Ireland
Somebody here asked me this question and it got me wondering:
Are there any accented letters in English?
Mód ar líne
Check out google for this type of information. Wikipedia says:
"Accents are sometimes also used for poetic purposes, to indicate an unusual pronunciation: for example, spelling the word picked as pickéd to indicate the pronunciation."
I have seen accents like this also on the word "blessed" to indicate a slight difference in pronunciation (and then it sounds like "blessED be the Lord - with an emphasis on the final "ed").
Other accented letters are used generally in words which have been borrowed and never anglicized, like coup d'état. Ditto resumé, which has lost one of the original French accents.
U.K - English
Cafe can also be accented - café (although this is not compulsory as far as I know)
(San Francisco) English
Andy1 said:
Are you asking about spelling or pronunciation?
JoseVerde
Some publications will also use the diaeresis (umlaut) to break up two vowels in succession to indicate 2 sounds instead of 1 for example:
naïve or coöperation
Here's some good information as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_words_with_diacritics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_with_diacritics
Loob
Jessie said:
Hi Jessie, and welcome to the forums!
You're right - a number of loan-words still retain their "e acute" accents: café, cliché, fiancé...
We also, as others have said, occasionally (generally in poetry) use the "e grave" to indicate the pronunciation of a normally-silent vowel: blessèd.
Occasionally, we use "ü" to indicate that the vowel is pronounced as "u" rather than "w".
But I'm ashamed to say, I can't think of an example
EDIT: naïve is a good example of the umlaut, JoseVerde, though I don't think I'd ever use it in co-operation.
xqby
Loob said:
The only one I can think of off the top of my head is: "Führer," though the spelling of "Fuehrer" is also considered acceptable.
Alisterio
I have a subscription to the New Yorker magazine and this seems to be standard practice there: they always write coöperation, coördination, reëlection, reëntry, etc., etc., when you have two vowels together but you want to signal that they're not meant to be pronounced as a diphthong. Personally I find it a bit affected, but it does seem to be an accepted usage - an alternative to separating the prefix and the rest of the word with a hyphen, I suppose.
EeeK! That does sound rather affected to me
I'd vote for the hyphen every time!
Traditionally, there are no diacritical marks in English. I say traditionally, because if you look at typewriters or even modern computer keyboards, there are no characters with diacritical marks.
Likewise, no U.S. newspapers published diacritical marks until recently and major news services have not transmitted information with diacritical marks.
With computers, however, it is possible to generate such characters. Even with the the standared U.S. keyboard layout, one can install the U.S. International Keyboard driver, so you can write words like Führer, which, by the way is German for "leader" and not English, so that doesn't count as to the question that was asked.
Because of computerized typesetting, some newspapers now are generating diacritical marks for foreign names or words that have been imported from other languages. Likewise, some dictionaries now accept spellings some words, e.g. "cliché" or résumé.
(Incidentally, the spell checker integral to Mozilla Firefox accepts the first but not the second)
Americans, however, are not accustomed to these words and unless somebody is competent in the language of the imported word, they are likely to come up with something comical.
I used a grave accent today, Andy, in this thread ~ post #11.
nzfauna
New Zealand, English
My opinion is that there are NO accents in English.
However, you will sometimes see accents in English in words borrowed from other languages.
pepperfire
Canada - English & French
I refuse to use accents in English... I have far too much trying to remember them in French...
Ok, I'm kidding a little; but whether you use them, for me, is a question of personal taste. If you ask me (and you sort of did), unless you're a real etymology snob, I would be surprised to learn that they are required.
Not even with "Coup d'Etat" or "Cafe" or ESPECIALLY "naive".
For what it is worth, My Canadian spell checker is balking at Coup D'Etat and Cafe and cliche but not naive or resume.
Let me put on my pedant's hat.
It is not an umlaut, it is a dieresis.
Umlaut is a concept in German, effectively meaning "change sound".
German changes vowels for grammatical purposes - plurals and conditionals in particular, plus some comparatives and superlatives.
Dieresis comes from the Greek to divide.
A dieresis shows that the vowels are split, and not blended.
citroën = citro-en, not citrown
mtmjr
California/Ohio (US)
Personally, I would only use accents on a couple of words and that probably stems from my having studied French. I can't stand to see "café" or "naïve" any other way. (When I see "naive", I pronounce it in my head as "nave" {with a long a} and think, "What the heck is that word!? Is it even an English word?")
Also, from what my English professor told me, one of the major dictionaries (I can't remember which one) eliminated most hyphenated words and either kept them as separate words or pushed them together to form one. So, perhaps we will be seeing a more of our little dieresis friend over doubled vowels...
Full Tilt Boogie
English has been described, perhaps justly, as a 'magpie' language, in that it constantly steals/acquires words from other world languages where it doesn't have one in its own lexicon.
e.g. déjà vu, bungalow, raison d'être, née etc.
Where these words in the original language carry accented letters, it is correct practice to carry them over when rendering them in English.
In Middle English (in the 13th Century) when the poet Geoffrey Chaucer was writing, there were still many Old English words carried over from Anglo-Saxon which did carry both Saxon, Celtic and Viking Nordic (cf. modern day Icelandic) accents, but they have largely been removed from use.
One of the aspects about making English words 'easy' to learn is that they are non-inflected or accented and carry no gender; in complete contrast to virtually all other European languages.
Nunty
Hebrew-US English (bilingual)
ewie said:
ewie in that other thread said:
Re: trillion in the UK
It seems to me, KevinB, that in the UK our belovèd BBC (& co.) avoid any -illion word bigger than billion, preferring to use such things as a thousand billion, a billion billion, etc.
Do you habitually use a grave accent there, ewster? I always pronounce it as though one were there, but very rarely write it. Is this a BE thing or an EE (ewie's English) thing?
That was a deliberately ironical use of belovèd there, Nunty (I can't say I use the word particularly often otherwise): a very short shorthand way of saying the BBC, which I despise.
On the wider question: as a person who 'studied' French for 25 years, and lived in France for 5 of those, I find myself incapable of not writing the accents on café, façade, raison d'être and so on: if I don't, they just look wrong.
While defending the right of folk to write English however they choose, provided it conveys what they intended it to convey, I add that a small number of words (the number one example being resume/resumé/résumé) never fail ~ on first reading ~ not to convey their intended meaning to me, because of a lack of written accents.
It's a case of what and where you studied, I suppose. And a matter of the spell checker.
Naive with the (speak this vowel separately) whichever you wish to call it, is not only wrong to my eye, it's wrong to my spell checker.
I will add too that I use a multilingual keyboard, so if I'm coding, you can be assured I'm not using any accents, even those I might regularly use, in English. In French, when I'm coding, there are enough accents that I switch back and forth. So, Ewie, if you ever find yourself reading my website... do so in French, at least there, I've made an effort to NOT offend the eye with missing accents.
Tim~!
Leicester, UK
UK — English
I've never written beloved with an accent but have to hold my hands up as someone who would write about a learnèd gentleman being someone who has learned a lot.
As Kevin B [he being a lawyer] can confirm, the term 'learned gentleman' refers to a fellow barrister in court:
Barrister #1: "On that point, I defer to the learned gentleman."
Or, in the UK House of Lords (the 'upper house' in our bicameral system of government), when one Lord responds to another Lord (who is or has been been a barrister or judge), the address would be "I thank the noble and learned Lord for his answer..."


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When I lived in Salt Lake City, I was constantly surprised by the rare, obscure cars I found sitting in the most random and unexpected places. An Alfetta GTV in a run-down garage a stone's throw from downtown, a few 1960s Lancias out by the Great Salt Lake, a Renault Fuego in an Odgen junkyard, and so forth. One of the most memorable finds was uncovering over a dozen European classics hidden in a junkyard on the north end of town.
I took the photos you see below over a decade ago so I'm having a difficult time remembering exactly who told me about these cars. However, that person mentioned he used to buy parts for his Fiat 600 at the yard, and he pointed out that the place also had a few "old little French cars" laying around. Naturally, I drove over to investigate.
After checking in at the reception, I hurried towards where the cars were stored and soon found myself head-to-head with a gold mine. I couldn't believe my eyes: a pair of Renault 4CVs, three Fiat 850s, a Beta, a Sonett, and an Austin A40 Somerset, just to name a few. They were all in pretty bad shape. I was looking for an 850 sedan at the time (still am, actually) and I considered buying the one in the yard, but a closer inspection revealed the body was too far gone.
The older cars were all parked on the far end of the lot. I mostly shot photos of the European classics, but there were also a handful of vintage American cars including a Crosley, a pair of Corvairs, and a few 1970s muscle cars. Of course, the junkyard was also home to about a hundred run-of-the-mill late-model cars.
All of the cars you see below disappeared about a year after I took the photos. It's a shame; some — like the Beta — were good for the crusher, but others — such as the blue 4CV — would have made either good parts cars or projects for those brave enough to tackle them.
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Reblogged this on Bad Manx Buggy ®™ Kool Air Cooled Cars… Rule.


Dogmas, by their nature, are impervious to the fresh air of questioning revision. The dogma of free trade, much to the misfortune of non-corporate beings, is all to representative of this. As Richard Denniss points out, "Like buying a house, it's easy to get a free trade agreement if you don't care what you get or how much you pay." The principle of swapping a technology or a product one has with another country that does not have it, is a dandy thing, provided it takes place in the theorised control room of an economist's vacuous world. The legal and politics side of things tends to be left danglin, if, indeed, it is considered at all.
The cult of free trade was given voice in the UK Prime Minister's recent address to the Australian parliament. While David Cameron was also talking about subtracting freedoms from various UK citizens returning back from Syria and Iraq, he was also having a good go at sentiments of "protectionism". "One of the greatest threats to our values and to our success is the spectre of protectionism." We should resist it in "the modern integrated global economy".
To that end, Cameron and other EU leaders are mulling over plans for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which, he has decided, "is a deal we want". The EU member states engaged the European Commission to start negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States in June 2013.
To that end, Cameron is dismissive about domestic erosions and challenges provided by such arrangements. "Some people argue in some ways that this could damage the NHS. I think that is nonsense. It's our National Health Service. It's in the public sector, it will stay in the public sector." How could those flat-earth theorists assume that Britain's NHS could be weakened by such a deal? Len McCluskey of the Unite union certainly thinks so, suggesting that the NHS is "being taken over by Wall Street".
He has a point. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 increased the number of private providers in the NHS system. Since coming into force, the act has seen 70 percent of health services put out to private tender. Suggesting that the NHS is an untouchable creature in a world of back door and overt privatisation is itself the nonsense behind the supposedly beneficial effects of a free trade arrangement. Medical policy invariably spills over into corporate conduct, or corporate recalcitrance, if the market line refuses to play with the political one. McCluskey's point is simple: exempt it, or there will be union inspired blood.
It is questionable whether the balance struck can ever be appropriate in such cases. For one, it vests a barnstorming power in the hands of foreign investors if they feel the government in question has broken rules contrary to company interests. This process is given a legal veneer of an international tribunal, which sounds much like validating an act of international pilfering. The language in the agreement is never framed so bluntly – diplomats have termed this "investment protection" and "Investor-to-state dispute settlement" or ISDS.
Such arrangements are becoming habitual, forming the euphemistic argot of political discourse. Australia's Abbott government is rushing pen to paper regarding a host of free trade agreements that will have similar effects. Such pacts are being pursued with only the slightest murmur of protest, largely because the policy toffs are convinced that free trade is actually free of cost. One such example is the impeding FTA with Beijing, lauded on the just concluded visit to Australia by President Xi Jinping.
Cameron is simply dismissive of such cases, choosing to consider trade deals as minor adjustments with major benefits. "We've signed trade deal after trade deal and it's never been a problem in the past." Trade deals are one thing, but the free trade deal is a legal creature that seeks to transform domestic markets with a heavy corporate code fanged by legal sanctions. It removes citizens from the process, and privileges companies as private persons who can raid public purses when their products fall foul of domestic legislation. Like similar agreements on the tables, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, it takes place in hermetic conditions. There is minimal scrutiny.
The final unedifying feature of such pacts is that they tend to be so loaded with such heavy exemptions and dispensations, they sink. Running into hundreds of pages, they are fodder for specialists in international trade litigation, putting pay to Cameron's fantasy that trade "enables the specialisation that can enrich us all." Lawyers and companies muse even as domestic political systems vanish. Be wary, then, of the hefty costs of any free trade agreement.


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